Inflatable float boom

ABSTRACT

AN INFLATABLE FLOAT BOOM HAVING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SELECTIVELY INFLATABLE TUBES CONNECTED THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTHS BY A JOINING WEB AND A PAIR OF ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBERS FILLED WITH PARTICULATE SOLIDS ARE DISPOSED WITHIN RESPECTIVE TUBES, SUCH MEMBERS BEING FREE TO FALL INTO THE LOWER SIDE PORTIONS OF RESPECTIVE TUBES. A SEPARATE GAS VALVE IS CONNECTED TO EACH TUBE SO THAT ONE TUBE CAN BE INFLATED TO FLOAT THE BOOM ON THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID AND THE DEFLATED TUBE FUNCTIONING AS A DEPENDING SKIRT THEREFORE. A SLEEVE IS PROVIDED BETWEEN THE END PORTIONS   OF THE TUBES TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND TO SURROUND THE RELEASABLE CONNECTORS THERBETWEEN.

May 8, 1973 C- F. LOGAN INFLATABLE FLOAT BOOM Original Filed Sept. 6.1968 INVENTOR Campe/l i7 Loyal? A f TOP/VI) United States Patent OfliceRe. 27,640 Reiasued May 8, 1973 27,640 INFLATABLE FLOAT BOOM Campbell F.Logan, 530 Goodwin St., Jacksonville,Fla. 32204 Original No. 3,494,132,dated Feb. 10, 1970, Ser. No.

757,849, Sept. 6, 1968. Application for reissue Sept.

25, 1970, Ser. No. 75,556

Int. Cl. I102b /04 U.S. Cl. 61-1 F 17 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets II] appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inflatable float boom having a pair ofelongated selectively inflatable tubes connected throughout theirlengths by a joining web and a pair of elongated hollow members filledwith particulate solids are disposed within respective tubes, suchmembers being free to fall into the lower side portions of respectivetubes. A separate gas valve is connected to each tube so that one tubecan be inflated to float the boom on the surface of the liquid and thedeflated tube functioning as a depending skirt therefore. A sleeve isprovided between the end portions of the tubes to bridge the gap and tosurround the releasable connectors therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to float booms and more particularly a float boom which includesa pair of selectively inflatable and deflatable tubes.

Description of the prior art Various methods and apparatus have beendevised to confine floatable material on a liquid surface, includingthose exemplified by Patent Nos. 2,240,567; 2,682,151; 2,968,928;3,146,598 and 3,369,664. Most of these patents relate to an inflatabletube with a depending skirt, such tube and skirt forming anopened-bottom enclosed ring into which the floatable material enters andis retained for recovery therefrom to prevent pollution. Problems areencountered when the inflatable tube becomes defective, as by a holetherein, thus causing the tube to collapse and allowing the floatablematerial to escape from the ring. This invention solves these problemsin a novel manner by providing a pair of selectively inflatable tubeswhereby the inflated tube functions to float the boom while the deflatedtube functions as the depending skirt. If the inflated tube becomesdeflated by an opening therein, the deflated tube is inflated and thenow deflated tube becomes the depending skirt portion of the boom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a float boom forconfining material floatable on a liquid surface, such boom employing afirst tube means including a first hollow collapsible elongated tube andsecond tube means including a second hollow collapsible elongated tubedisposed alongside the first tube. Joining means impermeable by thefloatable material externally connects the tubes along the lengthsthereof, and separate means for selectively and separately gas inflatingand deflating each of the tubes are provided. The specific gravity ofthe first tube means and of the second tube means is greater than thatof the liquid whereby when the tube of either tube means is deflatedthat tube means sinks. The gas capacity of each tube alone is sufficientwhen either one of the tubes is inflated and the other deflated to floatthe joining means and both of the tube means.

The float boom further includes separate weight means free withinrespective tubes to fall into the lower inside portion thereof. Theweight means or bouyancy reducing means each include a hollow memberhaving a small diameter relative to the diameters of the tubes wheninflated and particulate solids having a specific gravity greater thanthe liquid generally filling the member. A sleeve impermeable by thefloatable material telescopingly receives therein and bridges betweenthe end portions of each of the tubes and the joining means with thereleasable means therewithin.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfloat boom for confining floatable material on a liquid surface.

A particular object is the provision of a pair of inflatable anddeflatable tubes in which either tube functions to float the boom andthe other tube functions as the depending skirt for the boom.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide a float boomhaving freely disposed weight means in each of a pair of tubes whichassume appropriate positions therein when either tube is inflated.

A specific object is to provide means for connecting the ends of theboom or of adjacent booms which inhibit the leakage of confinedfloatable material therethrough.

Other objects include the provision of an improved float boominexpensive in the manufacture and maintenance thereof and readilymanipulated in the repeated installation and use thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The novel features which are believedto be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularityin the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view partly in section of the float boom inaccord with this invention, showing the floatable material on a liquidsurface;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away and in section ofthe manner of connecting the ends of the float boom;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the float boom on a reduced scale;and

FIG. 4 is a top view depicting one use of the invention wherein aplurality of float booms are connected end to end to form a continuousbarrier to confine the floatable material on a liquid surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, the float boom is designated at 10 in FIG. 1 with thefloatable material to be confined being depicted by numeral 12. Material12 floats on the surface 14 of liquid 16, liquid 16 being a body ofwater, for example, a lake, river or sea, as well known in the art.Float boom 10 includes a first tube means 20 and a second tube means 22,tube means 20 including a first hollow collapsible elongated tube 24 andmeans 26 for selectively gas inflating and deflating tube 24. Anothermeans 28 selectively and separately gas inflates and deflates the secondhollow collapsible elongated tube 30 of second tube means 22.

Joining means 34, impermeable by the floatable material 12, externallyconnects the first tube 24 with the second tube 30 along the lengththereof whereby an impermeable floatable material barrier is formed toconfine the floatable material within an enclosed space 33, as shown inFIG. 4.

The specific gravity of the first tube means 20 and of the second tubemeans 22 is greater than the specific gravity of the liquid 16 wherebywhen the tube of either tube means 20 or 22 is deflated that tube meanssinks with tube means 22 being shown in deflated condition and forming adepending skirt for the inflated tube means 20. The gas capacity of eachtube alone is sufltcient, with either one of the tubes 30 or 24 inflatedand the other tube deflated, to float the joining means 34 and both ofthe tube means 20 and 22, tube means 20 being shown in inflatedcondition for floating the boom.

Tube means 20 and 22 further include separate weight means or bouyancyreducing means 36 and 38 which are free within respective tubes 24 and30 to fall into the lower inside portion 40 and 42 of respective tubes24 and 30. As shown, weight means 36 provides ballast for the inflatedtube with weight means 38 causing the deflated tube 30 to assume avertical position extending downwardly into the liquid 16 while tube 24floats adjacent the surface.

When a leak occurs in inflated tube 24 and it becomes deflated, tube 30may be gas inflated through means 28 with the weight means 38 thenfalling to the then lower inside portion 44 and weight means 36 fallinginto its then lower inside portion 46. The entire boom 10 becomesinverted with tube 30 inflated thus functioning in the manner previouslydescribed in connection with tube 24, and the now deflated tube 24 thenfunctioning in the manner described in connection with tube 30.

Each of the weight means or bonyancy reducing means 36 and 38 includes ahollow elongated member 50 having a small diameter relative to thediameters of tubes 24 and 30 when inflated, and particulate solids 52,such as sand or the like, having a specific gravity greater than liquid16, generally filling the hollow of member 50;

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2 the manner of connecting theends of the float boom is illustrated, it being understood that thedescription is equally applicable to connecting the adjacent ends of twofloat booms 10 together. Elongated members 50 have end portions 54 whichproject outwardly from the wall ends 56 and 57 of respective tubes 24and 30 with the opposite end portions 58 extending respectively throughthe opposite wall ends 60 and 61 of respective tubes 24 and 30. Themember end portion 54 and 58 of tubes 50 are gas sealed to therespective wall ends, so that tubes 24 and 30 may be selectivelyinflated and deflated through valve means 26 and 28 which are likewiseconnected to wall end 56 and 57 in gas tight relation. Gas means 26 and28 may be connected to a compressed gas inflating device, such as thewell known CO bottle or to an air compressor through appropriate lines.Releasable attaching means 64 and 65, including eye connectors 66attached to end portions 58 and spring loaded hook connectors 68attached to end portion 54, are operative to connect end portions 54 toend portions 58 of members 50. The slight hump or slack 51 shown inmember 50 is illustrative of the slight excess of the member in thestraightened condition within the inflated tube as compared with portion52 of member 50 in the deflated tube due to the designing of the boom sothat members 50 extend outwardly through the ends adjacent joining means34 located generally centrally between the tubes 24 and 30.

A sleeve 70, impermeable by the floatable material, telescopicallyreceives therein and bridges between the end portions 72 and 74 of eachof the tubes 24 and 30, as well as receiving the joining means 36therewithin. Sleeve 70 may be sealed, as by heat sealing, to the tubesadjacent wall ends 56 and 57, as indicated by numeral 78.

After the connecting means 64 and 65 connect the ends 54 and 58 ofmembers tube 24 may be inflated through means 26 by a source ofcompressed air or the like, and

4 thereafter the free end of sleeve 70 may be sealed as by tape 82 tothe tubes adjacent ends 60 and 61. It is to be understood that azipper-like connection could be provided between sleeve 80 and theadjacent tube portion 85, if desired, rather than employing the tape 82without departing from the intended scope of this invention.

The tubes 24 and 30 and joining means 34 are preferably of a flexible,water impermeable and gas retaining material such as plastic, rubber,nylon or the like. Sleeve 70 is also preferably a flexible material,such as rubber, so as to permit the sleeve to generally conform to theshape of the inflated and deflated conditions of each of the tubes.

FIG. 3 depicts the float boom 10 in side elevation, it being understoodthat the length of the float boom may be any reasonable length, such as50 or 100 feet, and that the the diameter of the tube when inflated maybe from about 8 inches to 3 or 4 feet depending on the anticipatedlocation of the float boom in use.

FIG. 4 depicts a plurality of float booms 10 connected end to end toform a complete ring which permits the fioatable material to enterthrough the open bottom and to be confined there'within, in a mannerwell known in the art. It is to be understood that the float boom 10 maybe used with its ends connected to the sides of a ship or the like tocapture escaping floatable material therefrom or in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications withinthe true spirit and scope of this invention and within the followingclaims will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In a float boom for confining material floatable on a liquid surface,the combination of first tube means comprising a first hollowcollapsible elongated tube, means for selectively gas inflating anddeflating said first tube, second tube means comprising a second hollowcollapsible elongated tube disposed alongside of said first tube,joining means impermeable by the floatable material for externallyconnecting said tubes along the lengths thereof, and separate means forselectively gas inflating and deflating said second tube separately fromsaid first tube, the specific gravity of said first tube means and ofsaid second tube means being greater than that of said liquid, wherebywhen the tube of either tube means is deflated that tube means sinks,the gas capacity of each tube alone being sufficient when either one ofsaid tubes is inflated and the other deflated to float said joiningmeans and both of said tube means.

2. In the float boom as defined in claim 1 wherein each said tube meansfurther comprises weight means free within respective said tube to fallinto the lower inside portion thereof.

3. In the float boom as defined in claim 2 wherein each said weightmeans comprises a hollow member having a small diameter relative to thediameter of said tubes when inflated and particulate solids having aspecific gravity greater than the liquid generally filling said member.

4. In the float boom as defined in claim 1 wherein said joining meansand both of said tube means constituting a floatable material barrierhaving ends, an elongated member connected to and extending along saidbarrier and having end portions projecting from said barrier ends, andreleasable means attached to said end portions for connecting same.

5. In the float boom as defined in claim 4 wherein said elongated memberis hollow and has a small diameter relative to the diameters of saidtubes when inflated, further comprising particulate solids having aspecific gravity greater than the liquid generally filling the hollow ofsaid member.

6. In the float boom as defined in claim 1 further comprising anelongated member connected to and extending along and within each saidtube and having end portions projecting from the ends of each of saidtubes, and means attached to each said member end portions forconnecting said end portions of respective said member together.

7. In the float boom as defined in claim 6 wherein each said elongatedmember is hollow and has a small diameter relative to the diameters ofsaid tubes when inflated, further comprising particulate solids having aspecific gravity greater than the liquid generally filling the hollow ofeach said member.

8. In the float boom as defined in claim 1 further comprising connectingmeans impermeable by the floatable material for bridging between the endportions of respective said tubes and said joining means wherebyfloatable material is substantially inhibited from flowing from theconfined area within the boom outwardly through and between said tubesand joining means end portions.

9. In the float boom as defined in claim 4 further comprising a sleeveimpermeable by the floatable material for telescopingly receivingtherein and bridging between the end portions of respective said tubesand joining means, said releasable means when operative to attach saidmember end portions further surrounding said releasable means, and saidmember end portions.

10. In the fioat boom as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubes wheninflated and said joining means have a cross-sectional configuration ofan 8.

11 In a float boom for confining material floatable on a liquid surface,the combination of first tube means comprising a first hollowcollapsible elongated tube, means for selectively gas inflating anddeflating said first tube, second tube means comprising a second hollowcollapsible elongated tube disposed alongside of said first tube,joining means impermeable by the floatable material for externallyconnecting said tubes along the lengths ther eof, and separate means forselectively gas inflating and deflating said second tube separately fromsaid first tube, bouyancy reducing means associated with one of saidtubes for disposing at least a part of said one tube below the liquidsurface, the gas capacity of each tube alone being suflicient wheneither one of said tubes is inflated and the other deflated to floatsaid joining means and both of said tube means.

12. In the float boom as defined in claim 11 further comprisingconnecting means impermeable by the floatable material for bridgingbetween the end portions of respective said tubes and said joining meanswhereby floatable material is substantially inhibited from flowing fromthe confined area within the boom outwardly through and between saidtubes and joining means end portions.

13. In the float boom: as defined in claim 11 wherein said tubes wheninflated and said joining means have a cross-sectional configuration ofan 8.

14. In the float boom as defined in claim 11 wherein said joining meansincludes an elongated member extending along and attached to one of saidtube means.

15. In the float boom as defined in claim 14 wherein said joining meansincludes means attached to each end portion of said elongated member forconnecting said end portions together or adapted for connection toanother end portion means of another adjacent float boom.

16,. In the float boom as defined in claim 11 wherein said bouyancyreducing meatns isdisposed in either one of said tubes with the othertube inflated for disposing at least part of said one tube below theliquid surface.

17. In the float boom as defined in claim 16 wherein said bouyancyreducing means in either one of said tubes includes weight means freewithin respective said tube to fall into the lower inside portionthereof.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,428,978 2/1969 Johnson -1 F 2,682,151 6/1954Simpson et a1 61-1 F 2,185,458 1/1940 Giliasso 61-5 2,240,567 5/1941Meacham 61-1 2,968,928 1/1961 Wicklander 61-1 3,146,598 9/1964 Smith61-1 3,321,923 5/1967 Smith et a1. 61-1 3,369,664 2/1968 Dahan 61-1 X3,494,132 2/1970 Logan 61-1 F PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner

